Iron Butterfly Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’

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Its short stature, deer resistance, and butterfly appeal make Iron Butterfly a great choice for any size landscape.

This cultivar of the native Letterman ironweed is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and was selected for its vigorous growth, compact habit and abundance of flowers. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and its fine foliage is topped by purple flowers in late summer and fall.

Grow Iron Butterfly in full sun and well-drained soil. It tolerates drought once established and occasional flooding. This makes it a good choice for rain gardens.

Place it in the landscape where you can enjoy the late season flowers and the hummingbirds and butterflies it attracts.

A bit more information: Letterman ironweed is native to rocky outcrops, rocky floodplains of west-central Arkansas and adjacent portions of Oklahoma. Both Letterman and Iron Butterfly can be used for erosion control.